What Is a Tube Pan for Baking?

Tube pans used in baking not only enhance the appearance of a cake, but also make for better baking by creating a more evenly baked finished product. Available in several shapes and sizes, tube pans can result in an attractive finished product that does not require additional decoration.

Function

Tube pans should be used when baking a taller cake to insure that the cake will bake evenly, avoiding the problem of a cake burned on the outside and still uncooked on the inside.

Types

In addition to the traditional bundt cake and angel food cake pans, tube pans come in shapes such as stars, squares, hearts and others.

Sizes

Standard size tube pans are most common; however, miniature bundt pans are available, as well as what are commonly called "individual serving" angel food cake pans.

Benefits

In addition to the even baking benefit of using a tube pan, it is also to the baker's advantage that a cake baked in a tube pan makes a finished appearance that does not require icing, saving both time and calories.

Caution

Some tube pans come with separate bottom pieces; in this case, the batter can sometimes leak. Avoid this problem by using aluminum foil under the pan.

Resources

• Comparison chart for tube pans